OB Rag

By Geoff Page

While driving through the Sports Arena area in late February of this year, this writer noticed that a large stand of very big trees that once graced the east side of the Dixieline lumber building were gone. It has taken until now to drag the story of what happened out of the city and its property manager.

This stand of trees was removed because the Midway homeless were camping out under them. The tree canopy was extensive providing shade and probably protection from the rain. The misguided solution to the homeless camp was to kill this big stand of trees that were benefiting us all, without asking any of us.

Ocean Beach Historical Society hosted their Piers of Ocean Beach program outside at the entrance to the pier at the foot of Niagara Avenue, Thursday evening September 21.

An audience of between 50 and 60 listened to a low-tech presentation in three parts.

Eric DuVall of OBHS discussed the predecessors to the OB Pier:

 the Mission Bay Bridge, known colloquially as the Fishing Bridge (1915-1951), and the first Ocean Bridge Fishing Pier, remembered as the Steel Pier (1941-1951).

By David Helvarg

There’s an obvious reason global fossil fuel subsidies reached $7 trillion last year.  In a recent republican debate former Governor Chris Christie sarcastically dismissed a question on UFOs while Vivek Ramaswamy called climate change a hoax and yet no one seemed to make the connection.

As suggested in the 1996 climate documentary (masked as a science fiction film) ‘The Arrival’ aliens in human guise seek to take advantage of our bad energy choices in order to accelerate and terra-form the planet to the hotter drier conditions they need to colonize Earth.

By Paul Krueger

UT reporter Phillip Molnar confirms what many of us already know and have repeatedly shared with the Planning Commission, City Council, and anyone else who’ll listen: San Diego’s transit system doesn’t work for the overwhelming majority of residents.

The Sept. 15 article describes the failure of North Park’s new, 94-unit Casa Verde apartments to attract renters who could live without a car (or truck). [The original UT article is for subscribers only.]

Despite its location “close to the 30th Street bikeway and walking distance from just about everything,” developer George Champion was forced to purchase parking spots at the North Park Parking Garage to attract renters.

“I just don’t think we’re there yet,” Champion said about “car-free” housing developments.

The big news coming out of OB this morning was the announcement Monday by District Attorney Summer Stephan of grand jury indictments against 17 alleged members and supporters of the Hells Angels biker group in connection with a violent racial attack against three Black men in Ocean Beach on June 6.

The attack occurred outside a bar on Newport Avenue near Bacon Street; one of the men was stabbed in the chest, his sternum cracked in the attack, another victim was knocked unconscious – and the third ran and was not injured. The victims — ages 19, 20 and 21 — were repeatedly called a racial epithet during the incident.

Try munching on this short video of City Tacos by Charles Landon.

Colleen O’Connor’s views continue to be her own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Rag’s.

By Colleen O’Connor

The “Neither Biden nor Trump” idea has gained serious momentum in less than a month. Excruciatingly bad poll numbers for both presidential contenders have reinforced the theme.

Saturday morning’s Washington Post/ABC News poll: Headline: Trump edges out Biden 51-42 in head-to-head matchup. Summary: “The president’s job approval rating is 19 points underwater.” Why? 

By Ernest McCray

I find myself lately
from time to time
thinking about the good time
I had on stage,
just a wee bit of time ago,
doing some rhymes
of mine
and poetry of a friend of mine
and the work
of poets who rank
among the best of all time,
poems referring to a people
still rising,

By Colleen Dietzel – OB Green Center

I wanted to let the Rag and its readers know we are having a “Kip of Voltaire All RIIIGHT!!!!!! FEST” on Saturday, September 30th at 2 pm.

It will be held on the deck at Jim Bell’s compound, 4862 Voltaire St.

It will be a time to celebrate Kip and to thank all those that are keeping his spirit alive

If Congress does not resolve the impasse by Sept. 30, federal appropriations will expire, bringing many agencies to a halt and forcing the sprawling U.S. government to operate at a mere shell of itself.

Here are the most immediate effects of a federal government shut down — which may happen in only 8 days:

• Millions of federal employees will stop receiving paychecks — but many will be forced to report to work anyway.
• Millions of active military service members will stop receiving paychecks — but many will be forced to report to work anyway.
• Some national parks may close, museums could shutter
• airports nationwide might see new disruptions and delays.
• Federal aid programs including those assisting the victims of the deadly wildfires in Maui — could struggle to provide urgently needed support.
• mail deliveries would continue and
• seniors would still receive their Social Security checks,